For the first time since 2003 the College Game day pregame show will host a MAC conference game. They are coming to Kalamazoo for the Western Michigan game this Saturday against the Buffalo Bulls.
Western Michigan is one of only two undefeated teams left in the nation; the other being the Alabama Crimson Tide. WMU currently sit at 10 – 0 as they vie for a chance to play in the New Year’s Six bowl games or possibly even the College Football Playoffs.
College Game day picked Western Michigan because of their standout performances this season against other potential top 25 teams. The Broncos beat two Big Ten Teams Indiana and Northwestern. The latter was a huge victory as they defeated Northwestern who then lost to #2 Ohio State by four points, but beat Purdue 45-17. They also have recorded victories over
Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan who both have solid records this season and are bowl eligible with six or more wins.
There are several WWT students planning to attend WMU after graduation and they are pumped about this television exposure. “It is hard to believe,” Jonathan Redwick ‘17 said. He also added, “They (WMU) will do just fine and it is very exciting seeing my future school’s team getting the national spotlight.”
Some WWT staff have close ties to Western and are also happy with this success. Mrs. Curcio is a proud Bronco graduate and is finally glad to see her alma mater getting national attention. “Row the Boat is all I can say! When I was a student at Western, football wasn’t that popular of a sport and I think I only went to 3 games in the four years I lived in Kalamazoo. However, since graduating, I did see Western play against Michigan at the Big House and have watched their last two Tuesday night games because they were televised. Western is an awesome school and I’m so happy that the football team’s success is bringing Game Day so that the whole country can see how great the campus and fans are. Maybe it will even sway a few WWT students to attend Western after graduation!”
Central Michigan has a heated history with Western but CMU graduate Greg Mayer is also happy for WMU’s success. “I think it’s fantastic! Even though I graduated from Central, I always like to see MAC conference teams do good things that better their program and the conference.”
Many non-football fans may still be wondering, “What is the College Game day Pregame show?” It is a mobile live television sports cast that travels the country and sets up near the college of their weekly choice. There they will talk about all the games occurring in all conferences across the country and get hyped for the big game, which is the one they are at.
The hosts are sports commentators and former players that bring authenticity to the conversation. The four current hosts are Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, and Lee Corso. They also fly in a guest speaker every week at random. He/She comes on stage at the end of the show and picks who he/she thinks will win the top weekly games. Some Michigan celebrities are being tossed around as the possible guest picker. Some names are Tim Taylor, Dave Dombrowski, and multiple current players on the Detroit Tigers.
Fans set up camp and have a big party from the morning until game time and it is all on live television. One of the biggest highlights of the show is the posters that fans create and hold behind the hosts during the show. The posters are a mixture of humor, irreverence, trash talking, and every variety of comment available.
Game Day only travels to the campus that they believe to be one of the best team’s left standing and that is why it’s huge for Western Michigan and the rest of the MAC conference to be hosting the show.
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